EnviTec Biogas : Ground-breaking ceremony for a 1.2 MW EnviTec biogas plant in the Philippines

Reliable power supplies from chicken manure, rice and corn stocks

Lohne, 01 August 2017- Ground-breaking for the first EnviTec construction project in the Philippines: The Lower Saxony biogas supplier has started the construction of a 1.2 MW biogas plant in Candelaria, Quezon province. 'In addition to this project under construction we are planning to develop and replicate more projects to help the local farmers addressing the chicken manure disposal problem as well as the environmental issue associated with the burning of rice and corn straw', said Andy Alquiros, president of First Quezon Biogas Corporation (FQBC), the association of local poultry farmers which developed the project in partnership with the Singaporean co-investor Yamato Technologies Pte. Ltd.

The members of the cooperative had approached EnviTec to address the issue of the annually accumulating tonnes of poultry manure through this waste-to-energy pioneering project in the country. 'The current project benefits from the subsidies of the Renewable Energy Act passed by the government in 2008,' declared Marcello Barbato, EnviTec Sales Manager Southeast Asia. An affordable and reliable energy supply is needed, as there are still energy shortages on this archipelago state. Philippine energy prices are at an average of about 0.23USD/kWh. This is not only the most expensive in Southeast Asia but comparable also to highly-developed countries such as Japan, according to a target market analysis conducted by the German-Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI).

Thus, the Philippines offer enormous potential for the use of biomass and biogas energy. In addition to the use of animal waste, above all from hog and poultry waste, sugar cane and rice production offer a good source of waste to be used as input material. According to the GPCCI, the waste of sugar mills, rice and coconuts farms shows potential production capabilities of 90, 40 and 20 MW as of 2015. In any case, most of this waste is not used efficiently. Clean energy plays an integral role in the archipelago state's climate law, which was drafted as early as 2001. By 2030, total capacities for renewable energies are to be increased to 15,304 gigawatts, thereby contributing to the country's energy security. This corresponds to a three-fold increase in 2010 capacity, according to the GPCCI-study.

On August 3rd and 4th the 'Waste to Energy and Biogas Philippines Forum 2017' will be held in the country's capital. 'We will be there with an information booth, and we will talk with business partners, potential customers and farmers about our technology,' remarked Marcello Barbato.

These and additional in-country sales activities that have taken place over the past three years are now paying off, says Barbato: 'At present, our requests for offers are increasing and we expect the demand will continue to increase with the just-started construction project.' The local companies are seeking for sustainable technologies and the brand 'Made in Germany' is a guarantee of reliability. The archipelago with more than 7,100 islands is a challenge to construction companies due to its major typhoons and seismic activities. Christian Eilert, EnviTec Technical Sales Manager emphasized: 'Our reliable concrete tank system is particularly stable and is earthquake proven in seismic zones like in Italy and Japan. The roof construction of the digester is manufactured in such a way that it can withstand wind speeds of over 200 km/hour.'

About EnviTec Biogas AG
EnviTec Biogas AG covers the entire value chain for the production of biogas, including the planning and turnkey construction of biogas plants and biogas upgrading plants as well as their commissioning. The company takes charge of biological and technical services on demand and also offers full plant and operational management. In addition, EnviTec also operates its own biogas plants. In 2011, EnviTec Biogas along with EnviTec Energy GmbH & Co. KG and its 100% subsidiary EnviTec Stromkontor GmbH & Co. KG expanded its business operations into the direct marketing of upgraded biomethane as well as the marketing of green electricity and balancing energy. With a presence in 14 countries worldwide, EnviTec Biogas AG is represented by its own companies, sales offices, strategic partners and joint ventures. In 2016, EnviTec generated revenues of €162.9 million and an EBIT of €4.2 million. The EnviTec Group currently has around 440 employees. EnviTec Biogas has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since July 2007.

Contact:
Katrin Hackfort
EnviTec Biogas AG
Tel: +49 25 74 88 88 - 810
Email: k.hackfort@envitec-biogas.de